Cleanout and sealing cap



July 29, 1969 T. H. NOREN CLEANOUT AND SEALING CAP Filed April 26, 1965 R m g B N N W c 4 3 Wm m 1/ 8 F l AT TORNE Y United States Patent 3,457,958 CLEANOUT AND SEALING CAP Tore H. Noren, San Francisco, Calif., assignor to Stereo Dishwashing Machine Manufacturing Company, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Apr. 26, 1965, Ser. No. 450,920 Int. Cl. F161 55/00, 45/00 US. Cl. 138-89 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention pertains to a cap that can be manually applied to and removed from the threaded end of a tube without the need of tools. A portion of a helical spring is secured to the cylindrical inner surface of the cap and forms a yielding thread that can be screwed onto the threaded tube when connecting the cap to the tube. A normally flat disc in the cap closes the tube end and is flexed into a concave shape so as to exert a sealing effect thereon while also causing the helical spring thread to frictionally engage the tube thread for holding the cap on the tube.

use in a removable water spray manifold for a dishwasher described in a copending application of Tore H. Noren and George J. Federighi, Ser. No. 409,185, filed Nov. 5, 1964, now abandoned. The manifold has a plurality of hollow spray arms that are arranged in pairs, the arms in each pair extending in opposite directions from a central water-conveying passage and being aligned with each other. The outer ends of the arms are closed.

In the present case the outer ends of the arms are open and threaded externally for removably receiving the cleanout and sealing caps. When the caps are removed it is possible to pass a cleaning element entirely through the interior of each pair of aligned hollow arms for removing any foreign matter therefrom. After the cleaning operation the caps can be again secured to the outer ends of the arms for sealing them and the operator needs no tool for accomplishing this.

The device is simple in construction and durable and efficient for the purpose intended. The cap can be stamped from sheet metal. The threads in the cap are formed from a portion of a helical wire which is spot welded to the interior of the cap. The die for stamping the cap from the sheet metal can also cut the flange and form the fingerreceiving indentations in the flange. A liquid-tight seal is made when the cap is secured to the end of the spray arm or to the threaded end of a pipe.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the specification continues. The novel features of the invention will be set forth in the appended claims.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference should be made to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a removable water spray manifold for dishwashers and shows a number of the cleanout and sealing caps applied to the ends of the outwardly extending arms, the caps closing the ends of the arms.

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FIGURE 2 is an end elevation of the cap and it is shown full size.

FIGURE. 3 is a transverse section taken along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but shows the cap applied to a threaded end of one of the wash arms of the removable water spray manifold.

FIGURE 5 is a transverse section through the outer end of one of the wash arms in the manifold and shows an exteriorly threaded coupling connected thereto.

FIGURE 6 is a transverse section through a modified form of my cleanout and sealing cap.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 6 and shows how the water-sealing disc in the cap is flexed when brought into contact with the tend of the arm of the water spray manifold.

While I have shown only the preferred forms of my invention, it should be understood that various changes, or modifications, may be made within the scope of the annexed claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

Detailed description In carrying out my invention I illustrate schematically in FIGURE 1 a removable water spray manifold for dishwashers indicated generally at A. This particular water spray manifold is shown in a copending patent application of Tore H. Noren and George J. Federighi on a removable water spray manifold for dishwashers, Ser. No. 409,185, filed Nov. 5, 1964. The cleanout and sealing cap can be used for closing and sealing conduits other than the arms of a water spray manifold illustrated in FIGURE 1 although it is particularly designed to be used for closing and sealing the open ends of these arms. When the sealing caps are removed, the spray arms can be cleaned internally.

The particular construction of the cleanout and sealing cap shown at B in FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 is designed so that it can readily be attached to or detached from the open exteriorly threaded end of the spray arm without the need of any tools. In FIGURE 3, the sealing cap is shown as being stamped from a sheet of metal or the cap could be formed of plastic. The cap has a cylindrical portion 1 that has a closed end 2 and the other end of the cap is provided with an integral and outwardly extending flange 3. The flange has a plurality of radially extending fluted portions 4 and these portions provide indentations for the flange that will receive the fingers of the person who applies the cap B to the end of the arm C of the water spray manifold A.

The closed end 2 of the cap has a centrally disposed and inwardly extending projection 5 and a water-sealing disc D is placed in the cylindrical portion of the cap and has its center resting upon the inwardly extending portion 5, see FIGURE 3. The periphery 6 of the disc is slightly less than the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 1 so that the cap B, will readily receive the disc.

In place of providing spiral threads for the cylindrical portion 1, I mount a spiral spring portion E within the cylindrical part of the cap. This spiral spring loop extends through substantially a complete circle as shown by the dotted lines in FIGURE 2 but the ends 7 and 8 of the spring are spaced a slight distance apart. These spring ends 7 and 8 are welded to the adjacent portions of the inner surface of the cylindrical part 1 of the cap. The outer diameter of the spring E is equal to the inner diameter of the cylindircal portion 1 and the spring loop is spot-welded to the cylindrical portion 1 at a plurality of spaced-apart points between its ends 7 and 8.

The spring will constitute a spiral thread on the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 1 and the spring in addition will act as a locking device for securing the cap B to the arm C because the sides of the loop of the spring B will frictionally engage with the walls of the spiral groove 9 formed in a coupling member F, see FIGURE 5. The coupling member F is hollow and it has a flaired outer peripheral portion 10 at its inner end 11. The coupling member is received in the open end of each of the arms C and then the open end of the arm is crimped inwardly as at 12 so as to contact uniformly with the outer conical surface portion 10 of the coupling. The coupling also has a shoulder 13 against which the end of the crimped portion 12 of the arm C abuts. In this way the coupling F is permanently secured to the arm C. If desired, the crimped portion 12 may be welded to the coupling F.

The contour of the spiral groove 9 in the outer cylindrical surface of the coupling F is designed to receive the spiral spring loop E when the cap B is mounted on the end of the coupling F, see FIGURE 4. The cap B is advanced along the coupling F until the outer end 14 of the coupling abuts the flexible sealing disc D and forces the periphery of the disc down upon the inner surface of the closed end 2 of the cap. The disc will try to return to its normal flat plane and it will therefore yieldingly contact with the end 14 of the coupling F for making a Watertight seal therewith. The coil spring loop E will also frictionally engage with the walls of the spiral groove 9 and will act as a locking device for holding the cap B on the coupling.

The cap can be applied to any pipe or conduit that has an exteriorly threaded end for receiving the spiral spring loop E. The cap can be made any size desired and from any material. It is possible to stamp the cap from sheet metal and the die can be formed for providing the radially depressed portions 4 on the flange.

In FIGURES 6 and 7, I show a slightly modified form of the sealing cap. The sealing cap is indicated at G and is provided with a cylindrical portion and a closed end 26. The cap also has an outwardly extending flange 27 that is similar to the flange 3 of the cap B. Spaced apart indentations 28 are formed in the flange for the purpose of receiving the fingers of the person who is rotating the cap onto the exteriorly threaded pipe end or is removing it therefrom.

A portion of a spiral spring H has an outer diameter that will fit within the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 25. This spiral spring loop H is spot welded at various spaced apart points to the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 25 in the same manner as the spiral spring loop E is secured to the sealing cap B.

In place of the central projection 5, in the end 2 of the cap B, I provide a disc I that is convex in cross section, see FIGURE 6. The periphery of the convex disc has a diameter equal to the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 25. The convex disc I presses against a pipesealing disc K and normally spaces this disc from the closed end 26 of the cap.

FIGURE 7 shows the hollow water spray arm C with its coupling F threaded into the cap G so that the outer end of the coupling will press against the water-sealing disc K and will force the periphery of the disc down against the convex disc J. The water-sealing disc K will therefore close the open end of the coupling F or exteriorly threaded pipe and make a liquid tight seal therewith.

The water-sealing disc K is flexible and tends to return to its normal flat position shown in FIGURE 6. This disc will therefore bear against the end of the coupling F and will cause the wall of the spiral groove 9 in the coupling to frictionally engage with the spiral spring loop H and cooperate with the sealing disc K to act as a lock washer to prevent the accidental rotation of the cap on the coupling. The cap G can manually be applied to the coupling F without the need of any tool. The cap G will function in substantially the same manner as the cap B.

Iclaim:

1. The combination with the exteriorly threaded end of a fluid-conveying member; of a clean-out and sealing cap therefor and including; a body having a closed end, an integral cylindrical portion; and an outwardly extending integral flange; a helical wire loop secured at least at one point within said cylindrical portion and constituting a yielding screw thread adapted to receive the threaded end of said fluid-conveying member when said cap is applied thereto; a resilient flexible disc placed within said cylindrical portion and having a diameter equal to the inner diameter thereof; said disc having a tendency to return to normal position when flexed and means for flexing said disc when said cap is screwed onto the threaded end of said member for causing it to yieldingly contact with the end of said fluid-conveying member and form a liquid-tight closure therefor, said helical wire loop being yieldingly held in frictional engagement with the threads on the end of said member by the tendency of said flexed disc to return to normal position.

2. A sealing cap comprising a body having a closed end, an integral cylindrical portion, a helical wire loop extending through an arc of about 360 and secured at least at one point within said cylindrical Portion and constituting a yielding screw therad, a resilient flexible disc placed within said cylindrical portion and having a diameter equal to the inner diameter thereof; and means in said cap for flexing the center of said disc and causing it to yieldingly contact with the end of an exteriorly threaded member to form a liquid-tight seal therewith when the cap is screwed onto said member.

3. A sealing cap as set forth in claim 1 and in which (a) said means including an indentation extending inwardly from, the center of said closed end and flexing the center of said disc inwardly when said cap is secured to said member for causing the portion of said disc adjacent to its periphery to yieldingly contact with the end of the member for sealing it due to the resiliency of said disc endeavoring to return to normal position.

4. A sealing cap as set forth in claim 1 and in which (a) said means including a second disc concave in cross section and placed between said first-mentioned disc and said cap end and having its center contacting with the center of said first-mentioned disc;

(b) whereby said second disc will flex said first-mentioned disc when the cap is secured to the member and the peripheral portion of said first disc contacts with the end of the member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 455,511 7/1891 Kirkpatrick 22039 555,300 2/1896 Browne 22039 1,428,295 9/1922 Mills 2l540 1,489,040 4/1924 Parsons 22039 X 1,692,710 11/1928 Spahn 22039 X 1,851,938 3/1932 Rieke 22039 X 2,248,011 7/1941 Neuschaeffer 21543 X 2,423,295 7/1947 Crabbe et a1. 215-43 X 2,095,918 10/1937 Cave.

FOREIGN PATENTS 184,577 8/1922 Great Britain.

HERBERT F. ROSS, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 215-43; 22039 

